Legalize the Irish!!!

[Breeze54]

LEGALIZE THE IRISH DAY

http://www.irishlobbyusa.org/mission.php

MISSION STATEMENT

The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform has been established to make sure
there is an Irish voice in the nationwide immigration debate. This debate
affects some 11 million people, an estimated 50,000 of whom are Irish undocumented.

There are several competing visions. Some right wing Republican bills would enforce
new laws without any amnesty provision for those here illegally. The Irish government
has shown the way with clear backing for the bi-partisan McCain/Kennedy bill.
Kennedy/McCain would grant the undocumented a path to a green card while also bringing
in new enforcement laws.

Now is the time for this generation of young Irish to make themselves heard on this issue.
We believe that the need for concerted action is greater now than at any time since the
Donnelly and Morrison visa programs.

This site has been established to further the aims of the ILIR and to help our supporters
lobby the US Government. Please sign up to ILIR and help us help the undocumented.

Voices of Undocumented Irish
http://www.irishvoices.blogspot.com/

THE McCAIN/KENNEDY BILL (S1033)
Kennedy/McCain Bill: Key Points
(for all immigrants)
http://www.irishlobbyusa.org/toolkit/kennedymccain.php

For more information on Senator Specter’s so-called "Gold Card" proposal,
please see the side-by-side comparison with the McCain/Kennedy bill at http://www.cirnow.org/file/234.pdf

[IsItJustMe]

1. There should be no double standards. I don't care who they are.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

9. Bush just announced he wants to allow Irish Illegals to stay in the US

according to CNN

[Breeze54]

10. Thanks for the info but...

did he say anything about other illegals??
I don't think he should be talking about just one group
and that announcement would be missing the point, wouldn't it?
:shrug:
What a jerk!

I don't get CNN...or cable..or...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. what about myopic, Belgian, waffle-making, legless, deaf lefties?

huh? Why are they discriminated against?

[IsItJustMe]

4. Well, OK. We can allow one exclusion. LOL

[napi21]

3. I must be living under a rock! I'm 62 and I have NEVER encountered

an illegal irishman! I've lived in 4 different States, from the NE to the SW. Is this REALLY a problem?

[IsItJustMe]

5. I would say that it most likely 0.0001% of problem. I'v never seen it.

[MADem]

6. There are a screaming shitload of them--I myself have known DOZENS

They tend to come over on a work permit to do seasonal "resort work" and simply fail to get on the plane going home, and I've known a few that came for schooling and never left. They fit in quite nicely though (language not being a problem) so they bob along, unnoticed. With the Irish economy getting better by the day, one doesn't think about them, but they're out there. I also know a slew of Brazilians and Jamaicans in the same stewpot.

[BootinUp]

11. A guest on Lou Dobbs estimated 50,000 n/t

[MADem]

12. A load of 'em are in Boston and surrounding communities! n/t

[MADem]

7. Bertie brought it up with Porgie at the WH Shamrockfest

The Taoiseach has made a personal plea to President Bush to assist illegal Irish emigrants in the United States.

He was speaking in the White House, at the traditional presentation of shamrock to the US President.

Mr. Ahern told President Bush that thousands of Irish people want to live out their American dream without fear of deportation.

“On this St Patrick’s Day, mindful of the resonance that this issue has for people, and Irish people, I would like to express the hope that a path may be found to enable current Irish immigrants to legalise their status in the United States on a permanent basis.,,,

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=176360212&p=y7636x9y8

[Breeze54]

8. According to their website...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/03/15/IRISH.TMP
Irish join battle over illegal immigration
St. Patrick's Day vehicle for activists seeking reform

The Irish are standing up to be counted among the nation's
illegal immigrants, hoping their civic appeal at St. Patrick's Day
will soften the debate over immigration reform.

More at Link.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Under current immigration law,
it is almost impossible for an Irish person to legally immigrate to the US.
Recent proposals would criminalise the undocumented Irish already here.
This would effectively end Irish immigration to the US.
It would sever the centuries-old link between the countries and destroy our shared heritage.

My opinion:
This is a small percentage and I wasn't even aware that it was an issue,
until I saw it on the ABC News tonight, but if you look at the right wings
immigration reform(?) then I'd guess EVERY group would be affected by this!

This is just one group but many have already been speaking out!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Real Immigration Reform
http://news.asianweek.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=d6d56b6e8eb1bd82bcac58e63251e9d8&this_category_id=172
Snip-->
There are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, many of whom
are the relatives, friends and neighbors of U.S. citizens. Studies show that the vast majority
of immigrants are here to reunite with loved ones and work. According to the National Academy
of Sciences, immigrants add about $10 billion each year to the U.S. economy.
But our dysfunctional immigration system prevents many immigrants, no matter how valued they
are in their communities, from becoming legal residents. Instead, our current laws discourage
immigrants from coming forward by placing them in deportation proceedings when they do.

President Bush’s proposed temporary worker program misses the mark.
Instead of reforming our broken immigration system, the president would
register immigrants to work in the United States for three years,
on the condition that they then leave the country. <--Snip

~~~~~~~~~~~
So? I don't think it matters if you are Mexican or Irish;
Bush wants you all gone in three years!!